Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Zhang Fan stared unblinkingly at that outstretched sleeve, watching as the raging, rolling True Flame instantly vanished without a trace.

He had once seen records of this in the Dao Secret Record—this was the legendary Daoist Divine Technique, Sleeve Universe. It didn’t mean there was truly a world hidden in the sleeve, but rather that it could contain limitless methods and dispel all disasters and tribulations.

Rumble...

The Lao Mountain Great Flowing Flame dissipated out of sight, and in the surging heatwave, Li Chengge’s figure emerged once more. He leapt upward, merging into the wind, his speed even surpassing Li Changgeng’s Vertical Earth Golden Light.

The Lao Mountain Sect Leader—when he had reached such a realm, every gesture and motion possessed supernatural power. To put it simply, his basic attack outclassed any ultimate technique.

Buzz...

But in that instant, the ground began to tremble. Zhang Fan’s forehead twitched fiercely as he saw the earth around him shift as though on an escalator, rolling toward where Ming Shenshou stood. In a flash, Li Chengge, instead of advancing, was propelled backward, landing right before him.

”Daoist Divine Technique, Shrinking Inches!?”

Zhang Fan was stunned. Other than Li Changgeng, this was the second person he’d ever seen with two Divine Techniques.

Most crucially, the Ming Shenshou before him wielded these techniques with perfect ease and mastery—whether finesse or power, neither Zhang Fan nor Li Changgeng could compare.

Whoosh...

In a split second, Li Chengge moved with the ground, transported within five steps of Ming Shenshou. At that same moment, Ming Shenshou’s right hand shot forward and, right before Zhang Fan’s eyes, abruptly grew in size.

His hand issued a shuddering crackle of bones—pop, pop, pop—like beans bursting from their pods, each segment of bone swelling in an instant, along with flesh and skin...

In an instant, that hand became enormous, as massive as a mechanical excavator’s bucket.

”Daoist Divine Technique, Size at Will!?”

Zhang Fan was dumbfounded, staring at Ming Shenshou in bewilderment.

Size at Will—legend has it that once awakened, every part of the body can grow or shrink as desired.

”Is that even human!?” Zhang Fan muttered to himself.

Such a technique, perhaps not of the rank or power of Samadhi True Flame, but the problem was, counting Size at Will, this Ming Shenshou had already revealed three Daoist Divine Techniques.

The giant hand clamped down on Li Chengge, terrifying strength erupting, crushing metal and stone—he was about to mash this Lao Mountain Sect Leader into bloody pulp.

Buzz...

Suddenly, a mystical wave softly rippled outward. Li Chengge’s body seemed to dissolve into thin air; even the shadow on the ground faded completely, and that giant hand simply passed right through him.

”Daoist Divine Technique, No Shadow!” Zhang Fan watched in awe.

He’d seen such techniques in ancient Daoist texts—it’s said that beneath the sun, even sunlight would pass through you, and on the ground, not a single shadow would be cast; substance turned ethereal.

Whoosh...

Taking advantage of the emptiness, Li Chengge’s form drifted away, landing more than ten meters off.

”Sect Leader Li, I recall when you left the Wuwei Sect, you hadn’t awakened even a single Divine Technique...”

Ming Shenshou’s mouth curled up slightly, a blazing gleam radiating from his eyes.

”No Shadow—not a bad Divine Technique. Hand it over with this brat’s life, why don’t you.”

As he spoke, Ming Shenshou took a step forward—he moved...

Since the very beginning, he had been standing there, completely motionless...

Yet now, with just a step’s distance, it felt as though life and death stood between them. Zhang Fan’s expression changed dramatically, feeling all the light around him vanish.

Rumble...

At that very moment, a thunderous rumble rolled through the sky above.

Zhang Fan looked up and saw black clouds pressing down from above.

The sudden arrival of those ominous clouds was uncanny—like Heaven’s wrath had descended. A brilliant bolt of thunder split the sky, crashing down on Ming Shenshou at blinding speed.

”Liu Nanxu, you’re here too.” Ming Shenshou’s roar rang out—then, in an instant, he was engulfed by lightning. The destructive surge tore up the ground, flinging earth skyward and clouds of dust billowed aloft.

”Celestial Master...” Waves of shock surged in Zhang Fan’s heart.

This lightning—utterly unlike the Five Thunders Righteous Method that Xia Weisheng relied on with cultivation. It couldn’t even be counted as a Thunder Skill; this was the true thunder summoned by harmonizing one’s own microcosmic force with Heaven’s great phenomena.

Only those of the Celestial Master realm, who have attained Unity of Heaven and Man, could wield such a method.

Indeed, wreathed in endless lightning at the end of the twisted street, a Daoist strode forward—his terrifying aura eclipsing even Li Chengge’s.

Liu Nanxu, one of the three great Celestial Masters of Zhenwu Mountain.

No one could have imagined that such a master would cross thousands of miles, leave the North of the River, descend from Zhenwu Mountain, and appear here in this tiny Luoxia Town.

”Heh, perfect timing. I’ll kill you all today.”

Just then, a chill laughter drifted from the dispersed lightning and thunder.

Zhang Fan’s eye twitched; as the dust cleared, Ming Shenshou walked forth slowly, his robes in tatters, skin slightly charred—incredibly, he seemed otherwise unharmed.

”He’s still alive!?” Zhang Fan was utterly floored.

That lightning just now—if it had struck him, there would’ve been nothing left but a smear of ashes.

”Lord of the Red Palace!”

Liu Nanxu’s gaze was calm as deep water, facing a dire enemy.

Li Chengge backed away and, moving in silent accord with Liu Nanxu, formed a pincer around Ming Shenshou. The latter was unfazed, merely brushing dust from his shoulders, his eyes rife with murderous intent.

Thump... Thump... Thump...

Suddenly, a strange sound rang from the distance, like pounding drums, like the beating of a heart.

Ming Shenshou paused, glancing toward the direction of the sound, then regretfully shook his head.

”Seems I won’t get my fill today.”

”Is Lord of the Red Palace departing without showing your hand?” Liu Nanxu caught the shift, her voice calm but cold.